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22 N. Georgia Ave. Suite 300 . Mason City, IA 50401 . Phone: 641-421-9300 . Toll Free: 1-888-264-2581 . Fax:
641-421-9350
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Administration
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Minutes: Aug. 23, 2006 Cerro Gordo County Board of Health Present: Board of Health members Staff: Ron Osterholm, Health Director Guests: Julie Birkedal , Globe Gazette Service Award: Dr. Johnson presented Nancy Sevley with a service recognition award for five years. Minutes: Motion by Galasso, second by Schickel to approve the June 7, 2006 minutes as presented. Motion passed. Nonpublic Water: Brian Hanft handed discussion of the amendment over to Dan Ries. Ries spoke about an arsenic zone, south of Mason City and south of Clear Lake whereby new wells not penetrating a certain depth are finding the presence of arsenic. Ries distributed maps for the Board to observe the area in question. Discussion centered on liability of finding arsenic present in the drinking water of a new well. Ries mentioned that arsenic is not regulated by our ordinance. The ordinance requires testing for arsenic to determine presence for homeowner awareness and provides updated construction requirements to prevent arsenic entering other aquifers. Motion by Schickel, second by Kellogg to approve the Nonpublic Water Supply Well Ordinance Amendment. Motion passed. Environmental Health Three Year Fee Increase Brian Hanft outlined a three year plan for annual fee adjustments. Starting July 1, 2007 septic permits, well permits and time-of-sale inspections would increase in price to $200. Year 2 ( July 1, 2008 ) these same permits would increase to a cost of $225. Beginning year 3 ( July 1, 2009 ) the price would expand to $250. Schedule: Throughout these three years, tanning facility inspection fees will increase by $5 each year. The cost of a lead inspection fees meanwhile is set by the current Medicaid cost. Motion by Kellogg to accept the fee increase as recommended by Hanft; second by Schickel. Motion passed. Pandemic Influenza Response Plan Before handing the presentation over to Karen Crimmings , Ron Osterholm stressed that this is not an ordinance but a plan. Crimmings mentioned that Worth County is named in Table 1 (Total Potential Impact of an Influenza Pandemic) due to the fact that deceased individuals from Worth County are first shipped to Cerro Gordo before going back to Worth. Crimmings outlined the phases of a pandemic; the list of response partners; concept of operations; the plan Appendixes and finally the tools of the plan. Crimmings stated surge capacity projected needs are based on 50% of the ill population being affected in a 4-month period of time. Crimmings stressed this is 50% of those affected by the influenza pandemic; this does not include heart attacks and stroke victims, diabetics, etc. utilizing the hospital. Before departing at 12:55 , Kellogg stated she was very impressed with the thoroughness of the plan. The only improvement she could foresee was making it available via our web-site. Motion by Schickel and second by Dougherty to approve the Pandemic Influenza Response Plan which will become an Ann ex to the Public Health Preparedness Plan. Motion passed. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Compliance Requirements: Jodi Willemsen covered each of the eleven FY 2006 NIMS compliance requirements with the Board along with the manner in which each criteria was met. Willemsen explained all public health agencies in the state must show NIMS Compliance compliancy by August 31, 2006 in order to continue receiving bioterrorism grant funding in the upcoming years. In order for Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health to be considered compliant, our governing entity needs to sign and date the NIMS compliancy letter. This letter will be turned into our county EMA (Steve O’Neil) before August 31 st who will in turn submit this letter of compliancy to the Iowa Department of Homeland Security. Iowa Homeland Security is responsible for reporting to the federal government who is compliant and eligible for receiving bioterrorism funding this upcoming year. Dr. Johnson signed and dated the compliancy letter presented. Discussion regarding satellite phones was held. Satellite phones are expensive and services are limited. Due to these reasons Steve O’Neil, Emergency Management Coordinator does not have one. Motion by Galasso, second by Schickel to approve the National Incident Management System compliance requirements. Passed. Pandemic Community Awareness Campaign Michele Appelgate distributed packets of the grocery store flyers to the Board. In an attempt to reach as much of the public as possible, these flyers will be placed in the public libraries as well as wherever our display is at the current time. All area grocery stores have agreed; they will hand the flyers to the customer with the receipt, versus stuffing them in the bag of groceries. Core team and staff were dismissed at 1:35 , leaving the Health Director to meet with the Board one-on-one. Miscellaneous: The Health Director presented the Board of Health members a draft letter addressed to Dr. Mary Mincer-Hansen indicating the Boards dissatisfaction with IDPH response to their questions regarding pandemic planning. Board members reviewed the letter, assigned two Board members to make recommended changes and carbon copy local legislators and the Governor. The Health Director shared a copy of a letter from the Clear Lake Sanitary District to Dr. Johnson requesting a meeting between Board members and selected staff of both agencies to discuss responsibility roles. The Board requested the Director to contract Kevin Moler, Administrator, Clear Lake Sanitary District and request an outlined agenda before the Board accepts an invitation. Motion by Galasso and second by Schickel to adjourn the meeting at 2:15 . The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 8, 2006 at 12:00 . Respectfully Submitted,
Barb Kellogg Secretary |
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